Spout structure



1966 M. D. CHABER ET AL 3,265,256

SPOUT STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 16, 1964 WW M ATTO

RNEY

United States Patent 3,265,256 SPUUT STRUCTURE Morton D. Chaber, North Brunswick, and John Frederick Friden, Plainfield, N.J., assignors to Ronson Corporation, Woodhridge, N..I., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Sept. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 396,988 4 Claims. (Cl. 222534) This invention relates to a dispensing spout structure and more particularly to such a structure especially adapted for use upon containers holding fluids, for example, of the hydrocarbon type or lubricating oil.

In the prior art dispensing spouts in which a rotatable spout is used a disadvantage was present to the user because the passageway in the spout and the passageway in the base must line up or fluid will not flow from the container on which the spout is mounted and thence through the spout. When the user of the device pours fluid from the container to a joint which is to be lubricated he ordinarily unavoidably leans lightly upon the spout which will force it to go either to the right or to the left. When this situation occurs the aforesaid passageways do not line up and the flow is stopped. The user must realign the passageways to have the fluid leave the can.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to remove the latter difficulty by applying alignment means in the form of a stop on the top of the base which will positively engage and lock the spout when the passageways are in alignment and will not allow further movement in one direction past this point. The base also includes latching means such that more than an ordinary or casual force must be applied to rotate the spout structure in the opposite direction to remove it from its latched position.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a dispensing spout structure wherein the spout has means thereon to latch or lock the spout in the closed and open positions whereby the application of a force is necessary to overcome the etfect of the latching means.

The prior art suffers from another disadvantage in that in shipping containers through commerce these dispensing spouts must necessarily be handled in a rough manner. If the spout is inadvertently rotated in transit so that the passageways in the dispensing spout and in the base line up, the contents of the container will pour out. By providing a locking means on the base member the latter disadvantage has been overcome because the latching effect must be overcome.

Many prior art oil cans did not use a rotatable spout and as a consequence a fixed spout was used having a blunt tip and a screw cap placed over the latter. Many times the screw cap was lost or misplaced after the oiling operation was completed. In the present invention the latter cannot occur because the spout is rotatably attached to the base. With the present structure a pointed spout could be made which provides for easier oiling of parts because the smaller the nozzle of the spout the easier it becomes for the user to use. In the past a relatively blunt spout had to be used in order to accommodate a screw cap. Naturally a small tip will permit the nozzle to enter a correspondingly smaller orifice.

The invention in one aspect thereof comprises an elongated dispensing spout structure which includes a valve body having an arcuate convex peripheral portion upon which is mounted a spout, the valve body and elongated spout having a fluid passageway extending therethrough. A base is provided mounting a pair of spaced walls facing one another which together with the portion of the base between such walls forms a cavity or socket for receiving the aforementioned valve body. The portion of the base positioned between the walls comprises a base cav- Patented August 9, 1966 ity or socket region and is of concave-convex configuration which protrudes into the cavity or socket for engaging the convex arcuate peripheral portion of the valve body to form a sliding contact seal therebetween when the base and valve body are assembled. At least that portion of the base comprising the base cavity or socket region is composed of a resilient material such as polyethylene having formed therethrough a passage having an orifice positioned in the area of the aforementioned sliding contact seal. Such orifice can be placed in register with an orifice of the valve body passage responsive to the base and the valve body assuming a selected relative angular position.

The walls of the base member have an aperture extending therethrough so as to receive therein trunnions which serve to rotatably mount the dispensing spout. The latter trunnions fit within the aforementioned apertures and the dispensing spout is there-by mounted on the base. The walls of the base have therebetween undercut portions and one of the latter portions receives an extend-ing ledge of the spout valve body and limits movement of the latter in one direction. The walls further include protrusions mounted thereon which will latch a ledge which extends from the spout valve body. Since the walls of the base are relatively thin and formed of a plastic such as polyethylene the protrusions will yield to a degree of force applied to the spout. Depending from the base is a skirt portion which attaches to a container such as an oil or lighter fluid can. Concentric with the latter outer skirt member is an inner skirt member which engages in an aperture on a container such as an oil can.

Additional and further objects and novel features will more fully appear fro-m the detailed description set forth below when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood however that the drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference for this latter purpose being had to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views:

,FIG. I is a partially cut away perspective showing the top of a container having a dispensing spout thereon locked in the open position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation showing the container and base in cross section and the spout located on the base;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the spout in the closed position with the base partly in cross section and showing a portion of the container;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the base and spout structure of FIG. 1 showing the valve body latched in open position on the base;

FIG. 5 is a cross section taken along the line 55 in FIG. 2 showing the spout mounted on the base by means of trunnions;

FIG. 6 is a view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 3 showing the spout in locked position on the base, the spout being in cross section and in the closed position.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, the embodiments of FIGS. 1-6 will now be described. The d-ispensing spout is comprised essentially of two cooperating parts it) and 11. The base is preferably formed of a yieldable material such as polyethylene and is fabricated by molding, however any other well known forming technique can be employed. The base includes upstanding side walls 12 and end walls 13, all of which form the boundaries of a rectangular cavity therebetween. The side walls 12 have located thereon apertures 14. The function of the apertures is to locate and maintain in position the nozzle 11 which will be described in more detail below. The end walls 13 are each formed with diametrically opposed U-shaped undercuts 15. The U- shaped portions are slightly larger in diameter than the width of the ledge 16 on the valve body so as to freely accommodate the latter therein. The U-shaped portions are also larger in diameter than the widest portion of the nozzle 11 including the ribs 17 so as to accommodate the latter therein. Formed integrally with the side Walls 12 are four protuberances 18 above the U-shaped undercuts, which operate to hold the nozzle in a fixed open or closed position. The width of the ledge 16 on the nozzle part 11 is greater than the distance A shown in FIG. 6, between the protuberances 18. The width of the nozzle 11 including the ribs 17 is also greater than the distance A between the protuberances 18. The ledge 16 and the nozzle 11 can thereby spread the resilient protuberances 18 apart and lie in the U-shaped portion 15. The ledge or the nozzle can thereby be locked in position by the overlying protuberances. Depending from the walls 12, 13 is a depending flange or skirt 19 which may have provided on its inner portion a ridge or bead 20 as shown in FIG. 2 which cooperates with a corresponding lip 21 on a container to which the base is attached to maintain the dispenser fixed thereon. A second depending annular skirt 22 is located within the circumscribing confines of the skirt 19 and is concentric thereto. The skirt 22 fits within the top opening of a container 23 and serves in conjunction with bead 21 to maintain the spout fixed on the container and also serves as a guide for the fluid leaving the container and entering the spout. The wall 24 is normally convex as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2 and is resiliently yieldable toward a concave inner portion as shown in full lines in FIG. 2. The wall 24 includes a concave sealing member or raised boss 25 which cooperates with the convex base 26 of the nozzle 11 as shown in FIG. 3. The passage 27 permits fluid to flow from the passage 28 through the nozzle 11.

The nozzle 11 is preferably a plastic molded part, however, it can be formed using any well known forming technique. The nozzle comes to a tapered point to permit the user to insert the nozzle into a small opening with ease. Formed on the sides of the nozzle 11 are ribs 17 which it is reiterated extend beyond the distance A between the protuberances 18 shown in FIG. 6. A ledge 16 extends outwardly at approximately 90 to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle; the ledge has a rounded portion 16a which has the same radius of curvature as the bottom of the U-shaped portions 15. The ledge can thereby fit into said U-shaped cavity to be latched by protuberances 18. The convex portion 26 of the valve body has a radius R which is slightly greater than the radius of curvature R of the top of the raised boss 25. The of curvature of the boss 25 and the valve body 26 being located at the center of the aligned apertures 14. Thus referring to FIG. 3, R is greater than R when the base is in the unstressed position such as when the nozzle is removed from the base and the portion 24 is moved upwardly in a convex configuration as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2. The effect of having the radius of the convex portion of the valve body larger than the radius of the boss 25 is that the convex portion of the nozzle 11 will exert a force against the sealing boss 25 so as to obtain a perfect seal between the nozzle and the boss 25.

The nozzle 11 has trunnions 11a located thereon and having a tapered lower portion. The tapers permit facile insertion of the nozzle into the apertures 14 on the base member. Since the trunnions extend beyond the inner distance between the sidewalls 12 the tapered portion exerts a pressure against the side walls 12 to flex the latter outwardly as the nozzle 11 is inserted into the boss 10. When the trunnions 11a reach the aligned apertures 14 in the base, the trunnions 11a will snap into the apertures and retain the nozzle in place.

In actual operation, when the nozzle 11 is in the closed position as shown in FIG. 3, the passageway 27 can receive no fluid because the convex portion 26 of the nozzle exerts pressure against the raised boss 25 and prevents the egress of the liquid through the passageway 28. It is in this latter closed position that the product is shipped and is subject to jostling and much handling. The protuberances 18 are in engagement with the ribs 17 in the closed position of the nozzle as shown in FIG. 6. A force to overcome the engagement of the protuberances must be exerted upwardly against the nozzle 11 in order to move the nozzle to the open position as shown in FIG. 1. Thus the normal forces against the nozzle 11 which occur during handling of the spout are generally insufiicient to accidentally rotate the nozzle 11 to the open position. However, when one desires to place the spout in the open position he need only apply an upward force on the nozzle 11 sutficient to overcome the restraining force of the yieldable protuberances 18. The latter protuberances will of course flex because they are made of a yieldable material such as plastic.

When the user of the spout desires to place the spout in the open position as shown in FIG. 1, it is unnecessary for him to use care in aligning the passageway 28 on the base and the passageway 27 on the nozzle because the ledge 16 when it has been rotated approximately 70 in the counter-clockwise direction to the open FIG. 1 position will be precluded from further clockwise movement by the U-shaped undercut portion as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 4. It is in this position that the passageways 27 and 28 are always in alignment and form a continuous path. The rounded portion 16a of the ledge 16 forces the protuberances back and outward by a cam action and the protuberances will then snap back over the ledge 16 to retain the latter in place. When the user of the dispenser desires to probe with the nozzle 11 and must exert pressure against the latter, the nozzle 11 is prohibited from rotation out of the passageway aligned open position by the protuberances 18 which prevent rotation of the ledge 16 unless a sufficient force is exerted against the nozzle to overcome the restraining effect of the protuberances 18. To close the nozzle 11, the user merely applies a sufficient force with his hand to overcome the restraint of the yieldable protuberances 18 and rotates the nozzle 11 to the closed position as shown in FIG. 3. When in the closed FIG. 3 position the nozzle 11 and the ribs 17 are positioned in the undercut portion 15 and the protuberances 18 prevent accidental rotation of the nozzle 11 to the open position. The ribs 18 force the protuberances back in the direction of rotation and outwardly normal to the latter direction. The protuberances then snap into place to maintain the nozzle in the FIG. 3 closed position.

It should be noted that the functions of the elements defined in the specification and shown in the drawings could be modified by being reversed. For example, the ribs 17 could be on the protuberances 18 or the groove 15 and by removing the rib 17 a groove can be placed on the nozzle to receive the rib and be latched thereby.

The protuberances 18 could be in the form of indentaiigns or any other shape which will hold the nozzle ribs We claim:

1. In a dispensing spout comprising (a) a movable nozzle,

( b) a base member having walls formed thereon to receive said movable nozzle,

(c) means defining a passage extending through said base and through said nozzle such that in an open position said passage is continuous through said base and nozzle and in a closed position the passages are not continuous,

(d) pivotal means on said base member and nozzle to enable said nozzle to rotate between open and closed positions,

(e) said base member having receiving means on one of said walls,

(f) said nozzle member having a rib thereon,

(g) said rib and receiving means being constructed to engage to lock said nozzle member in a closed position, said receiving means comprising walls defining an upwardly facing recess shaped to receive said nozzle and having a protuberance extending inwardly and above said ri'b when said spout is located in said recess so as to interfere with said rib on said nozzle when the nozzle is in closed position.

2. A dispensing spout structure as in claim 1 in which said nozzle has an outstanding ledge, said base member having a second receiving means thereon whereby said ledge and receiving means are engageable to lock said nozzle in an open position.

3. A dispensing spout structure as in claim 1 in which said second receiving means comprises walls defining an upwarlly faoing recess shaped to receive said outstanding ledge and having a protuberance extending inwardly and above said ledge when said ledge is located in said recess so as to interfere with said ledge when said nozzle is in open position.

4. In a dispensing spout comprising (a) a movable nozzle,

('b) a base member having walls formed thereon to receive said movable nozzle,

(0) means defining a passage extending through said base and through said nozzle such that in an open position said passage is continuous through said base and nozzle and in a closed position the passages are not continuous,

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,717,726 9/1955 Mart 222-536 X 2,727,658 9/1955 Mart 222-53-6 2,778,547 1/1957 Atterby 222536 X 2,936,934 5/ 1960 Kubiliunas 222--536 X 3,023,939 3/1962 Gustafson 222536 3,089,626 5/1963 Kubiliunas 222-536 X 3,104,039 9/1963 Dike 222536 3,111,245 11/1963 Libit et al. -2 222536 X 3,116,856 1/1964 Prussin et al. 222-536 X 3,163,337 12/1064 Wilson 222534 RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A DISPENSING SPOUT COMPRISING (A) A MOVABLE NOZZLE, (B) A BASE SAID MEMBER HAVING WALLS FORMED THEREON TO RECEIVE SAID MOVABLE NOZZLE, (C) MEANS DEFINING A PASSAGE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BASE SAID THROUGH SAID NOZZLE SUCH THAT IN AN OPEN POSITION SAID PASSAGE IS CONTINUOUS THROUGH SAID BASE AND NOZZLE AND IN A CLOSED POSITION THE PASSAGES ARE NOT CONTINUOUS, (D) PIVOTAL MEANS ON SAID BASE MEMBER AND NOZZLE TO ENABLE SAID NOZZLE TO ROTATE BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS, (E) SAID BASE MEMBER HAVING RECEIVING MEANS ON ONE OF SAID WALLS, (F) SAID NOZZLE MEMBER HAVING A RIB, THEREON, 